A 14-year-old boy and 20-year-old man were both randomly shot in Etobicoke over the weekend, Toronto Police confirmed on Monday.
Supt. Ron Taverner made the revelation at a news conference about a separate fatal shooting in Etobicoke where a man in his 50s was killed and four others injured.
Investigators say it’s too early to link the two random shootings with the one that claimed a life near North Albion Collegiate Institute on Sunday night.
The 20-year-old victim was shot near Albion Road and Martin Grove Road at around 10:01 p.m. on Saturday night.
He’s being treated for serious, but non life-threatening injuries.
“We belive he was a totally innocent victim,” Taverner said.
Several hours later, a 14-year-old boy was exiting an apartment when he was also shot at around 2:40 a.m. Sunday near Richgrove Drive and Martin Grove Road.
Investigators also believe the teen victim was randomly targeted.
“This speaks to the randomness of some of these things,” Taverner said. “It speaks to how unbelievable these situations are that a young person walking out of an apartment buidling is shot randomly. A 20-year-old is shot randomly.
“They are very concerning and for us in policing we intent to step up our vigilance in these areas.”
Taverner couldn’t confirm a link to the fatal shooting Sunday or if the random shootings were gang-related, but said “everything is a consideration right now.”
“Of course we are concerned about gang violence that’s always a concern we have. Gangs are a concern and we try and deal with gangs and gang members … and we will continue to do that, but unless we have specific information, it makes it very difficult to do anything.”
“It’s very disturbing,” he added. “There isn’t anyone in this room or community that isn’t outraged.”